1.7.2012 Rally Cittā di Gubbio - San Crispino ended to Mikko Pajunenīs celebration
Rally Cittā di Gubbio - San Crispino was the second rally driven on gravel in the Italian Rally Championships C.I.R. 2012 and again Mikko Pajunen dominated the hole race from the start to the end. Mikko Pajunen with his co-driver Kaj Lindström were driving in the Rally as an invited drivers of GIMA Autosport and Renault Sport.
Italian gravel roads are ideal for Pajunenīs driving style. After the three stages of the first day the Finnish duo was on the top of the scoreboard of R2B class 1min 39 sec ahead M. Tassone while third was F. Andolfi 2 min 26 sec behind Pajunen.
- Itīs kind of hot in here. The surface of gravel was 35 degrees already eight o'clock in the morning. In the first special stage there were so much dust on the air that we had to slow down, says Pajunen after the first day.
Temperature was a real challege to the crews and to tyres as well. There were still six more stages to drive on saturday. Tyres were over heating and on Saturday, we have to carry two extra tyres in the car. We are now leading Simone (Campedelli) 7 seconds, but tomorrow he will go his own speed because R3 class car has a bit more power than we have. But atleast we are teasing him, Pajunen smiles with a twinkle in his eye.
Saturday's special stages were driven in command of Pajunen in class R2B but as Mikko himself predicted on Friday, Campedellis pace with his R3 class car was too much. So Campedelli won the 2wd overall competition and Pajunen and Lindström were the second 1 min 26,1 sec behind him.
Class R2B podium:
1. M. Pajunen 1.25.13,1
2. G.Cunial +4.05,3
3. A Nucita +4.10,6
Pajunen leads the Renault Twingo Trophy and the last race is in San Remo, Italy from 12th to 13th October, it will also be the last rally of C.I.R 2012.
Photo 1: Luca Dell Vitto
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